How to Correct the Sodium for Hyperglycemia

by
STEPHEN CHRISTENSEN Last Updated: Aug 13, 2015

Stephen Christensen

Stephen Christensen started writing health-related articles in 1976 and his work has appeared in diverse publications including professional journals, “Birds and Blooms” magazine, poetry anthologies and children's books. He received his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine and completed a three-year residency in family medicine at McKay-Dee Hospital Center in Ogden, Utah.

Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily transported through your bloodstream and used by your cells for fuel. If your blood glucose increases significantly – a condition called hyperglycemia – it acts like a chemical sponge, drawing water from inside your cells and diluting the sodium outside your cells. While this does not change the total amount of sodium in your body, it can interfere with its accurate measurement. "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy" reports that for every 100 mg/dL your blood glucose rises above normal, your sodium level falls about 1.6 mEq/L.